Gail Simone is an American comics writer who has written for the DC titles Wonder Woman and The All-New Atom. She penned Wildstorm's Gen13 reboot and Welcome To Tranquility, did Birds Of Prey and Secret Six, and is currently on New 52's Secret Six, Dynamite's Red Sonja, & Dark Horse's Tomb Raider

Interview: Gail Simone Talks About the Politics of THE MOVEMENT

We heard back in February that Gail Simone and Freddie Williams II were teaming up for a new series called THE MOVEMENT. In the announcement, Simone said, "It's a book about power -- who owns it, who uses it, who suffers from its abuse." With the angle of politics and themes that came from Occupy Wall Street, many have been left wondering what this series will be like. We had the chance to ask Gail some questions to get a better idea.

Comic Vine: How deep into politics in the DC Universe are you going to get?

Gail Simone: Pretty deep. The fun of something like the MOVEMENT is that it’s a logical extension of how citizens who aren’t media giant journalists, Gotham billionaires, or mythical princesses view the way power works in the DCU.

How does someone feel when the world is full of superheroes, but all the problems of the world still exist?

CV: Are you taking 'real-world' ideas and situations and give them a comic book twist?

GS: Yeah, it’s still an adventure/superhero story. We don’t want people to feel they’re being preached at, it’s not that kind of book. At the same time, a lot of readers are finding some of the tropes about superheroes—they date back to the 1940’s. It’s a good time to relook at those elements.

I’ve been thinking about this book as if the very concept of the Teen Titans or the X-men were created today, rather than half a century ago.

CV: What can you tell us about the characters involved? Are they all new characters or will we see some familiar faces?

GS: Mostly new! Although it’s been revealed that Tremor, a character that first appeared in the Secret Six, has returned.

These are new characters, very young, very passionate, very fiery. Their leader is only sixteen years old. She’s smart as hell, but how much wisdom does anyone have at sixteen?

AND there’s gonna be some fun characters we have not yet seen in the New 52 who make a powerful return, as the series goes on…but that would be telling!

CV: Did you and Freddie work together on the character designs?

GS: We did, but he pretty much nailed them immediately. I had suggestions, but he just ran with them like a house afire and made everything a million times better. I love the designs, every one.

Freddie is a whirlwind of creativity. The art in this book is moody and funny and sexy, it’s all the stuff I love in a comic. I love that slightly unsavory feel.

We are also fortunate enough to have the amazing Amanda Conner do the covers, and her influence is definitely felt, she and Freddie have created something wonderful, visually.

CV: Can we assume you're going to write some really kick-ass situations so Freddie can show off how amazing of an artist he is?

GS: This is a good assumption! Freddie is amazing at the action stuff, but he’s equally great at the character stuff. It’s a lovely partnership…he writes back with these great design ideas, these innovative layouts and panel arrangements. It’s a joy.

If you’re used to Freddie’s larger than life heroes, this is going to surprise you.

CV: Will we see other DC characters and heroes involved in the stories?

GS: Absolutely, everyone who knows my work knows I love the connectivity of the DCU. The thing is, how does someone like Batman or Superman view these kids? They’re outlaws, they are reckless, they’re powerful, they’re uncontrollable.

And they’re pissed.

No one in this group is exactly JLA material. Which is part of why I like ‘em.

CV: THE MOVEMENT is launching the same month as THE GREEN TEAM. Will there be any correlation between the two series?

GS: There is a shadowy connection…there are hints almost from the very start. And it’s fair to say the two groups won’t exactly see eye to eye…

I am a huge Franco and Art fan, any book they do gets an automatic read from me.

CV: With a focus on how innocent people are affected in the DC Universe versus superhero antics, what can readers expect in this series?

GS: I think every superhero fan has read a news story at some point and felt, “I wish Superman was real, he’d fix this.” It’s not just a wish for heroism and adventure, it’s a feeling we all have that the world isn’t entirely fair, and we all yearn for champions, for people who can make a difference.

A lot of the Movement is about those classic emotions, it’s just that the crimes and the heroes are updated for a new audience. It’s bold and surprising, and the characters are a blast. It reminds me of the first time I read the X-Men, or Teen Titans, it feels like something new and that’s exciting.

I hope everyone gives it a shot, a lot of fun DCU lore is going to show up in this book!

is it just me or i am noticing is dc gradually getting better then marvel now a days. Marvel is starting to get lame with the uncanny-x men and hulk with shield? i read the issue and i didnt see the rampage or free what so ever destruction i wanted. to me it looks like dc is taking the lead this year especially with flash,batman,and superman.

Granted, a lot of these characters are new and not pre-existing c-listers, but I loved what Gail did with a group of outcasts in Secret Six. She's said multiple times that this book will be similar in that regard to I'm in.

is it just me or i am noticing is dc gradually getting better then marvel now a days. Marvel is starting to get lame with the uncanny-x men and hulk with shield? i read the issue and i didnt see the rampage or free what so ever destruction i wanted. to me it looks like dc is taking the lead this year especially with flash,batman,and superman.

That is your opinion and I respect it but I tend to disagree. It feels to me that DC is going backwards there doing 90's story telling which is very dark and gritty with long story arcs and endless cross overs when it comes to big books. I like that both companies will take a chance on a new ideas like this I just hope DC will let it find its fan base before they retool it.

I am pretty interested in this series it seems like it could be great with the team behind it. I just hope it is not like Brotherhood a book similar to this idea wise that went from a new group fighting for justice against the man to darker themes of were you cross the line and become a homegrown terrorist.

Gail had me at "The fun of something like the MOVEMENT is that it’s a logical extension of how citizens who aren’t media giant journalists, Gotham billionaires, or mythical princesses view the way power works in the DCU."

I will definitely buying the first issues of both this and THE GREEN TEAM.

is it just me or i am noticing is dc gradually getting better then marvel now a days. Marvel is starting to get lame with the uncanny-x men and hulk with shield? i read the issue and i didnt see the rampage or free what so ever destruction i wanted. to me it looks like dc is taking the lead this year especially with flash,batman,and superman.

@sethysquare: Same here. If Simone is saying that this is going to be akin to her Secret Six work, then I'm so in. Hopefully, between this and Ales Kot taking over Suicide Squad, the Edge line can finally catch up in terms of quality.

I noticed the exact opposite. Most DC titles feel like they are stuck in the 90's, where as Marvel Now has produced some really good work. the new Deadpool, Hickman on Avengers, Remenders books, Superior Spider-man, Waid on DD etc. A lot of great stuff coming out of Marvel these days

I really want these guys to fight Batman Inc. It feels like it would fit with this being a team of teenagers out to protect the poor and Batman Inc being a world wide franchise team of people dressed like Batman, who in turn is DC's largest comic franchise. I think it would be cool but that's just my opinion and who knows what will happen to Batman inc after Morrison's final issue this July.

is it just me or i am noticing is dc gradually getting better then marvel now a days. Marvel is starting to get lame with the uncanny-x men and hulk with shield? i read the issue and i didnt see the rampage or free what so ever destruction i wanted. to me it looks like dc is taking the lead this year especially with flash,batman,and superman.

I have a feeling I'm going to hate this. I also have a feeling they are going to give the finger to older characters when they appear in their book. Kind of like how they did with Cap and Spider-Man when they appeared in Runaways. Despite what she said I think this book will be preachy.

Hopefully the Movement will do well so dc can compete with the x-men. The movement reminds me of Blood Syndicate which hopefully will also be relaunched in the future. New 52 has been using more ethnic characters and the Movement seems to have Tremor with roots in India and Katharsis seems to have ties to Laos.

I have a feeling I'm going to hate this. I also have a feeling they are going to give the finger to older characters when they appear in their book. Kind of like how they did with Cap and Spider-Man when they appeared in Runaways. Despite what she said I think this book will be preachy.

The movement reminds me of Blood Syndicate which hopefully will also be relaunched in the future. New 52 has been using more ethnic characters and the Movement seems to have Tremor with roots in India and Katharsis seems to have ties to Laos.

because like the new 52 has shown us so far ethnic characters are always wonderfully promoted and sell really really well

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no, wait, that's the opposite.

ok, im trolling a little bit but lets be realistic, it doesnt matter if this book ends up being good. It is not going to sell

this book sounds awfully lot like the New Guardians and i dont mean the Green Lantern title, I mean the really old one with an ethnic team that just fight drugs and Aids

is it just me or i am noticing is dc gradually getting better then marvel now a days. Marvel is starting to get lame with the uncanny-x men and hulk with shield? i read the issue and i didnt see the rampage or free what so ever destruction i wanted. to me it looks like dc is taking the lead this year especially with flash,batman,and superman.

Dc has been better than Marvel for the past decade now.

Yeah, ten years ago my pull list was roughly even with the big two. Now it doesn't have a single Marvel title.

is it just me or i am noticing is dc gradually getting better then marvel now a days. Marvel is starting to get lame with the uncanny-x men and hulk with shield? i read the issue and i didnt see the rampage or free what so ever destruction i wanted. to me it looks like dc is taking the lead this year especially with flash,batman,and superman.

That is your opinion and I respect it but I tend to disagree. It feels to me that DC is going backwards there doing 90's story telling which is very dark and gritty with long story arcs and endless cross overs when it comes to big books. I like that both companies will take a chance on a new ideas like this I just hope DC will let it find its fan base before they retool it.

I am pretty interested in this series it seems like it could be great with the team behind it. I just hope it is not like Brotherhood a book similar to this idea wise that went from a new group fighting for justice against the man to darker themes of were you cross the line and become a homegrown terrorist.

I see how you view this but i cant say i agree.As marvel has always sticked to what it was known except for(Superior-spiderman).Dc has always introduced new stuff and took a chance as for example: New Batwing, Damian's Death..To me i would just like to see marvel do something new and not revlolving about avengers,x-men,spider-man,etc........

In 1938, Superman started out as an illegal vigilante so this illegal Movement is just going back to the roots of comics. There are also lots of poor people and it is quite believable that some of the poor might have super powers. Also lots of fat people in America so we could also use more obese superheroes.

Anything by Simone and Williams I say! Still, I'm intrigued at this outward sociopolitical stance that is taken for the book, for it seems to me that this is almost like the Occupy Wallstreet movement combined with Kick @$$ meets the DCU New 52 for something bold and exciting. I'm so getting this and am so excited to read it!